The plane, which originated in Washington DC, was carrying 148 passengers and 6 crew. An American Airlines spokesman said the fuselage of the Boeing 737 was cracked, the right engine had broken off and the landing gear had collapsed.

Local journalist Roland Henry said passengers thought the plane was landing normally before there was a series of jolts and luggage tumbled from overhead lockers.

A team of investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board has arrived in Jamaica to help with the investigation.

In a related story:
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER-1/1/10)- The Airports Authority of Jamaica says repair work on the approach lights at Norman Manley International Airport is scheduled for completion this month. The approach lights were out at the airport on Dec. 22 when American Airlines flight 331 overran the runway, crossed the Port Royal Road and crash landed mere metres from the Caribbean Sea.

However, the authority noted that the absence of approach lights has never been detrimental to an aircraft landing safely before. According to a pilot who spoke on condition of anonimity, the high-tech instruments landing system on newer aircraft do not require a pilot to even be familiar with an airport.

Meanwhile, NBC NEWS has reported that the Boeing 737 had exceeded its weight limit and this could have made it difficult for the pilot to properly land the aircraft. It quoted sources familiar with the investigation as saying the plane was carrying extra fuel for the return trip- a practice known as ferrying fuel.

ENTERTAINMENT:

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER-12/30/09)- Distinguished poet, performer and political activist, Linton Kwesi Johnson- or LKJ, will give an illustrated lecture on African Consciousness in Reggae Music on January 3rd. His lecture marks the launch of the Global Reggae Studies Centre, a private sector initiative of Doctor Carolyn Cooper.

Born in Jamaica, LKJ migrated to the UK at age 11. As a teenager, he joined the Black Panther Movement which shaped his political consciousness. He found his voice as a poet and performed with Rasta Love, a group of upful poets and drummers. His poems were first published in the journal RACE TODAY, which also released his first collection of poetry- "Voices of the Living and the Dead"- in 1974. Johnson has more than 20 albums to his credit including "Poet and the Roots" and the 3-volume "LKJ in Dub".

Dr. Cooper has done pioneering work to establish reggae studies as an academic enterprise in Jamaica and internationally. She is a professor of literary and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies- Mona and is the author of 2 innovative books on Jamaican culture: "Soundclash: Jamaican Dancehall Culture at Large" and "Noises In The Blood: Orality, Gender and the 'Vulgar' Body of Jamaican Popular Culture".

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (JA OBSERVER- 1/1/10)- Music aficianados, members of the media and the music fraternity were constantly reminded of the holistic concept on which REBEL SALUTE was established as the 17th edition of the popular cultural showcase was launched. Speaker after speaker extolled the virtue of the positive approach taken by FLAMES PRODUCTION in the promotion of reggae music that has characterized REBEL SALUTE since its inception in 1994.

Minister of Agriculture Dr. Christopher Tufton- in whose constituency the cultural fiesta unfolds at the Port Kaiser Sports Club in St. Elizabeth on January 16- stressed that music has a critical role to play and leadership requires us to buck the trend when the trend is going in the wrong direction.
"Rebel Salute does that", he observed.

Recognising the widespread support from home and abroad for this musical product, Tony Rebel- founder of FLAMES PRODUCTIONS- defended the theme around which the product is built. "You can't preach violence in music and expect the people of Germany to accept it. Because Hitler already show them what violence is. You can not teach the French and the Americans about sex. A dem mek it. What they love about us, is when them going through hardship and terrible times, dem hear 'don't worry about a ting'. That is what they want....So mi want tell all a you sey- Don't apologise for endorsing and loving and support the real authentic side of Jamaica music", he said.

According to Rebel, the line-up for the 2010 REBEL SALUTE includes: Steel Pulse, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Capleton, Lady Saw, Ritchie Spice, Gramps Morgan, Freddie MacGregor, Junior Murvin, Daddy U-Roy, Pinchers, Ronnie Davis of The Itals (Itals member David Isaacs died recently, so the group will not be performing) and many others.

ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS-12/31/09)- Music thumped loudly as thousands of people danced their way down King Street for J'ouvert. Bodies packed tightly and with calls of "hands in the air", the dancers moved in unison, inching slowly toward the Crucian Christmas Festival Village.

UMB Soldiers led the crowd with hundreds of fans dancing alongside the big rig truck they used as a stage. They were followed by X-Press Band, Daddy Jones and Crew, Stroka Band, The Stylee Band and Fusion Band. The event, as usual, started a bit late and the sun was high in the sky as it ended at the village. Across the crowd, smiles dominated as people pressed close to the booming music.

Before J'ouvert was over, the enticing aromas of Crucian cuisine had already begun to waft through the park. By noon, the feeding frenzy and celebration of local culture that is the Crucian Christmas Festival's Food, Arts and Crafts Fair was under way in earnest.

Former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, along with several family members, created a stir when they showed up in the early afternoon, strolling through the fair and stopping to order food from the Frederiksted Moravian Church booth. Rev. Dion Christopher stated, "Now I can boast that the president has eaten with the Moravian Church."

The Food Fair honoree this year was Corrine Milligan, who has cooked for the fair for more than 20 years. Her specialties include pates, bullfoot soup and rice. Milligan acquired her gift for cooking from her grandmother, she says.

At a booth featuring the cooking of Daphne Davis and her sister, the seafood kallaloo was a crowd favorite and was gone by noon. At De Cake Man booth, Keith James, decked out in a madras shirt and chef's hat, served up vienna cake and Southern Red Velvet cake.

Carter gave a short speech, introducing himself as someone who "used to be President of the Virgin Islands" and quipping that with 31 members of the Carter family vacationing on the island, they were doing their part for the local economy. "We could go anywhere for our vacation", he said, "but we are very glad to be here." He closed with, "Keep the island beautiful- that's all we can ask."

John "Mighty John" Williams claimed the Crucian Christmas Festival Calypso Monarch crown after nearly 5 hours of competition among the 10 calypsonians who were vying for the title. Williams, who won his first Calypso Monarch title 6 years ago as a teenager, unseated reigning monarch Campbell "King Kan" Barnes.

The announcement came well after midnight following an evening of rollicking music, biting social commentary, clever lyrics, robust competition and an enthusiastic, responsive audience at Island Center For the Performing Arts.

King Kan was first runner-up, while Morris "King Generic" Benjamin was 2nd runner-up.

CULTURE: MAUBY

(BBC/CARIBBEAN-12/24/09)- Mauby adorned many a dinner table this holiday season in the Caribbean. And there might be a good reason to drink up, particularly those suffering from high blood pressure.

The drink made from the bark of the mauby tree is quite popular in many Caribbean countries. For generations, folk medicine practitioners have claimed all sorts of health benefits. Some claim it is an aphrodisiac and others say it helps arthritis.

Now a new study appears to give support to one that claims mauby might be useful in lowering blood pressure. It was conducted by Trinidad-born Kwame Amin, a student at City University at New York's Manhatten Community College. Amin's work won him first prize at this year's Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.

Also known as mavi in Puerto Rico, and mabi in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the drink is made with sugar and the bark of certain species of the mauby tree, a small tree native to the northern Caribbean region. Recipes usually include other spices as well, aniseed being the most common. Often the drink is fermented using a portion of the previous batch.

Mauby is often bought as a pre-made syrup and then mixed with water, but many still make it themselves at home. It's taste is initially sweet, somewhat like root beer, but changes to a bitter aftertaste. To many it is an acquired taste. In several Caribbean countries, it is a Christmas cordial.

Pato's note: There is a commercial carbonated drink called "Mauby Fizz" that is sold throughout the Caribbean. Give it a try and see if you like it before trying Granny's home brew.